Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-07-08
Judge Poland Dead.

Hon. Luke p. Poland died suddenly last
Saturday afternoon, of apoplexy, at his
home in Watervile During his residence
there for two or three years past, on his
fathers old homestead which he had fitted
up and removed to for permanent resi-
dence, he had become enthusiastic on the
subject of farming, and felt himself grow
ing young again, as he thought in health
and strength. He had Just bought wide
brmmed straw hat to wear in the field, and
but a short time before his death had re
marked that he was feeling better every
day, He mounted to the hay NOV to help
stow away a load of hay. Soon a low
moan was heard from him he sank down
and was dead A concise summary of the
record of Judge Poland's long and active
life, given in the Burlington Free Press,
from which we quote, says that
Luke Potter Poland was the son of Dea-
con Luther and Nancy Potter Poland.
He was born in the town of Westford Chit
tenden county, November /, 1915, and was
thus in his I'D year at his death When he
was six years old his father removed to
Colts Gore, now part of the town of Water
vile, Lamoille Co. He there acquired his
early education in the common schools, add
ing two terms in the academy. At the age
of eighteen he commenced the study of
law, and at the age of twenty-one was ad-
mitted to the bar of Lamoille county on
the first day the court was held in that
then newly organized county. He com
menced the practice of the law in Morris
vile in 1896 was appointed register of
probate in 1899 represented the town in
the state constitutional convention of 1913
and was states attorney in 1914 and 1915
He had rapidly acquired prominence and
reputation as a lawyer; and in 1913 he was
elevated TO the bench having been elected
fifth associate justice of the supreme court.
Upon the establishment of the circuit court
of this state in 1850 he was elected one of
the judges thereof, and held that position
continuously till the establishment of the
supreme court in 1857, when he was elected
second associate justice, and in 1860 he sue
ceeded to the chief justiceship. In 1868,
having had eighteen successive elections as
judge, he was appointed United States sen
ator by Gov. Dillingham;, to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Jacob Collamer. At
the session of the Legislature in 1866 he
was elected to serve the remainder of that
term, Mr. Morrill, being at the same time
elected senator for the full term, commenc-
ing the following March While in the sen
ate he served on the judiciary committee
and the committee on patents and the pat
ent office. He was a delegate 10 the Phila-
delphia "loyalistn convention of 1866 He
was sent to the 10th Congress in 1866 as
representative of the second district, to sue
coed Hon, Justin S, Morrill, who had been
promoted to the United States senate, and
was successfully reelected TO the list, 42d
and 43d Congresses.
During this period of his public service
he served on the committee on elections as
chairman Of the committee on the revision
of the United States laws-of which great
task he had the chief charge-as chairman
Of the committee ON unfinished business, a,
chairman of the select committee on the
Credit Mohelier and chairman of the special
committee ON the affairs of Arkansas He
Louisiana affairs on the Ku Klux on the
Credit Moblier and ON the Geneva Award
which attracted wide attention during that
critical period as wise, statesmanlike and
patriotic utterances He added to his ma
tional fame by his report on the case Of
Arkansas, and by the speech made by hin
in support thereof in March, 1873. He wa,
lot e.. Il. -
gress in the fall of 1874, but was defeated
10y Dudley c. Dennison. He then resumed
the practice of his profession, being engag
ed in many of the heaviest railroad anc
other cases, and in his duties as president
of the First National bank of st. Johns
bury, which office he held for twenty tw,
years
In 1878 he was elected TO the Stat,
Legislature as representative Of the tow
of st. Johnsbury, and was the acknowl
edged leader on the floor of the House. Il
1882 he was elected 10 the 4Sth Congress
in triangular contest over Fletcher, Dem
ocrat, and Grout, Republican. In this Con
gress he served again on the Judiciary com
mttee. He declined denomination t,
Congress and again retired to private life
In 1866, however, he again accepted al
election % the Legislature as Representative,
Of the town of Waterville, and was con
nected with almost all Of the most import
ant legislation Of that session This wa,
his last service as a legislator
In Judge Polands death Vermont lose,
one Of the men whose superior mental en-
dowment has given the state name and q